ANSWP Commander
April 12th, 2008, 08:36 AM
http://12.107.40.66/lsn/news.asp?articleID=10674
Government Settles Discrimination Case Under Pressure
Attorneys Say They Were "Terrorized" Into Abandoning Lawsuit
4/12/2008 9:44:49 AM
Discuss this story in the forum
Overthrow Staff
Virginia Beach, Virginia -- The United States of American and several Negro tenants who had accused a Virginia Beach landlord of discrimination have settled their claim, citing pressure to do so from "white supremacists" and this website, against which they have filed numerous unsuccessful contempt claims.
At a hearing held Friday morning both the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and Troutman Sanders, the law firm representing the Negroes, said they were preparing to dismiss their suit against John Crockett Henry and Henry, LLC, owners of a thirty unit apartment complex in Virginia Beach.
During previous hearings, Kevin Mottley, lead attorney for Trotuman Sanders, cited "threats" he felt were being directed against him by this website as a reason for settling the suit, rather than taking it to trial.
Bill White, an owner of the company which publishes this website, has denied any threats were made. White originally instructed supporters of this site not to contact Mottley, then urged them to contact him peacefully, without harassment or violations of the law. On Friday, an attorney representing Mottley stated Mottley had had to shut off his phone due to the public response. Earlier, Mottley testified he had hired two armed bodyguard to protect him and his wife.
At a hearing last week, Mottley broke down crying on the witness stand when describing the "terror" of having to face the possibility a "white supremacist" might contact him.
At yesterday's hearing, a federal magistrate judge, for the fourth time, declined to enter a restraining order prohibiting this website from publishing Mottley's address or the address of Lori Wagner, lead US Department of Justice attorney in the case.
Mottley has asked that the court issue a criminal contempt citation against White, and Wagner asked Friday that White be charged under 18 USC 119, which makes publishing the address of a public official with the intent they be made a victim of a violent crime in order to affect their public duties a crime.
The judge in the case does not have the authority to take any action except issue an order under the All Writs Act to prohibit future conduct. He can recommend action to a District Judge, or, if he feels there is criminal activity, refer the criminal activity to the Department of Justice.
The Department of Justice has already declined to act on the complaints of the attorneys involved.
Overthrow.com has stated that Mottley's reaction, while somewhat amusing, is a completely irrational response to this website's statements, which have not been threatening and have not been directed at Mottley. Overthrow urges readers to criticize Mottley, not harass him or commit crimes against him, and no evidence has been presented of any actual criminal or harassing activity that Mottley has received.
Government Settles Discrimination Case Under Pressure
Attorneys Say They Were "Terrorized" Into Abandoning Lawsuit
4/12/2008 9:44:49 AM
Discuss this story in the forum
Overthrow Staff
Virginia Beach, Virginia -- The United States of American and several Negro tenants who had accused a Virginia Beach landlord of discrimination have settled their claim, citing pressure to do so from "white supremacists" and this website, against which they have filed numerous unsuccessful contempt claims.
At a hearing held Friday morning both the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and Troutman Sanders, the law firm representing the Negroes, said they were preparing to dismiss their suit against John Crockett Henry and Henry, LLC, owners of a thirty unit apartment complex in Virginia Beach.
During previous hearings, Kevin Mottley, lead attorney for Trotuman Sanders, cited "threats" he felt were being directed against him by this website as a reason for settling the suit, rather than taking it to trial.
Bill White, an owner of the company which publishes this website, has denied any threats were made. White originally instructed supporters of this site not to contact Mottley, then urged them to contact him peacefully, without harassment or violations of the law. On Friday, an attorney representing Mottley stated Mottley had had to shut off his phone due to the public response. Earlier, Mottley testified he had hired two armed bodyguard to protect him and his wife.
At a hearing last week, Mottley broke down crying on the witness stand when describing the "terror" of having to face the possibility a "white supremacist" might contact him.
At yesterday's hearing, a federal magistrate judge, for the fourth time, declined to enter a restraining order prohibiting this website from publishing Mottley's address or the address of Lori Wagner, lead US Department of Justice attorney in the case.
Mottley has asked that the court issue a criminal contempt citation against White, and Wagner asked Friday that White be charged under 18 USC 119, which makes publishing the address of a public official with the intent they be made a victim of a violent crime in order to affect their public duties a crime.
The judge in the case does not have the authority to take any action except issue an order under the All Writs Act to prohibit future conduct. He can recommend action to a District Judge, or, if he feels there is criminal activity, refer the criminal activity to the Department of Justice.
The Department of Justice has already declined to act on the complaints of the attorneys involved.
Overthrow.com has stated that Mottley's reaction, while somewhat amusing, is a completely irrational response to this website's statements, which have not been threatening and have not been directed at Mottley. Overthrow urges readers to criticize Mottley, not harass him or commit crimes against him, and no evidence has been presented of any actual criminal or harassing activity that Mottley has received.